The Patriot Post® · OK, GOP — Now What?
While nothing is certain just days before the midterm election finale, it seems highly likely that the GOP will regain majority control of the U.S. House of Representatives and quite possibly the Senate as well. If so, how will Republicans handle their resounding victory?
I suspect that it will be something like winning the lottery (I wouldn’t know; I’ve never bought a lottery ticket) — a tidal wave of opportunity, along with tons of unsolicited guidance, demands, pressure, and expectations.
Here’s what we know for sure. For the GOP, the easy part has been pointing out the epic failures of the Biden administration. The vastly more difficult part will be working to right the ship, particularly with an uncooperative Joe Biden at the helm and a surely hostile media focusing its microscope on the Republican interlopers.
Truth be told, Republicans have been remiss in not presenting a clear picture of how exactly they intend to lead Congress with a Democrat administration. That may not have been necessary to win the 2022 midterms, but on January 3, it will be Job #1. Elections are about the future, not the past.
And so, how to proceed? I’m not sure how well my views align with those of GOP House and Senate leadership, but for what it’s worth, here they are:
In all respects, go to school on the past two years. Democrats won in 2020 by being the Party of Not Trump. That was a good tactic for getting elected, but it fell flat once they had to actually govern. Republicans won’t fare any better by simply being the Party of Not Biden.
Many Republicans, fuming over the years of Russia collusion nonsense, two impeachments, and J6 investigation overkill, are clamoring for payback. They argue that it’s time to take the gloves off, to stop being polite losers. I disagree. The Democrats have had their gloves off for six years, and now they’re on the ropes. Stay cool, professional, and positive.
The U.S. Congress is our government’s legislative branch; don’t use it as the majority party’s private investigative service. Republicans have understandably complained about “witch hunts” — so, please, don’t take over and just start hunting for different witches. Congressional investigations should be limited, clearly defined, and directly related to legislative objectives.
The House Select Committee on January 6th has been largely political theater, designed and operated to deliver a predetermined and wholly political conclusion. But it already has gone too far to be disbanded and swept under the rug. Instead, give it a limited extension, this time with adult supervision, truly bipartisan participation, and a revised scope to include aspects conveniently sidestepped thus far, including inadequacies in Capitol security, the Ashli Babbitt killing, the FBI’s undercover role, and others. Wrap it up with a published, balanced report on the entire ugly event.
Similarly, let’s not waste the next two years — with so many crucial issues facing the nation — on a Biden impeachment. Let the electorate handle that in 2024.
Keep in mind that Americans have built-in smoke detectors. They know the border is not secure, they know that gas was not $5/gallon when Biden was elected, they know that our nation is not systemically racist, and they know that the Inflation Reduction Act has nothing to do with inflation reduction. Assertions from on high on such matters don’t convince anyone that they are true; they simply remind us not to believe what our elected leaders say.
Most importantly, as individual elected members of Congress and as a political party, stay laser-focused on what’s important to your constituents. For two years, Democrats pushed issues such as abortion, transgender rights, and January 6 to the very top of their agenda; meanwhile, a majority of Americans were saying, Hold on … we actually care more about paying our bills, keeping the lights on, and what our kids are learning at school. Was anyone listening?
What’s needed now is relentless attention to the people’s business. A GOP Congress should focus on the same issues that GOP candidates have been hammering on the campaign trail. Let’s flood the zone with sensible course-correcting legislation, delivered to Biden’s desk for his overt support or rejection.
Maybe, just maybe, the president may see the light and learn to work with a responsible Congress led by his political adversaries — just like Bill Clinton’s second-term reset with Newt Gingrich and Ronald Reagan’s mutually respectful working relationship with Tip O'Neill. Both achieved real progress for the nation.
What a concept!